hierarchy

5 definitions • 6 examples

a system in which people or things are arranged according to their importance:

social hierarchy Some monkeys have a very complex social hierarchy.

political hierarchy He rose quickly through the political hierarchy to become party leader.

the people in the upper levels of an organization who control it

a system in which people or things are put at various levels or ranks according to their importance:

He rapidly rose in the corporate hierarchy.

a system in which the people within a company or organization are organized into levels according to the authority they have:

Every organization has a hierarchy, and trying to understand that, and the systems and processes of the organization, is important.

corporate/management/organizational/political, etc. hierachy Many kinds of work are more easily and cheaply managed in corporate hierarchies than by individuals doing deals in the market.

the people in the upper levels of a company or organization who control it:

When the recommendations had been submitted and approved by the hierarchy, teams were established to manage the process of implementing them.